RallyNorth.net

Newburyport football coach Ed Gaudiano confirmed last night his team will be without the services of quarterback Joe Clancy tomorrow when the Clippers host Amesbury (10 a.m., World War Stadium).

Clancy will serve a MIAA-imposed one-game suspension that stems from a physical altercation between him and Lynnfield linebacker Nick Tropeano during the teams' Nov. 10 game.

Over the last few years, football fans have watched Tom Brady and Peyton Manning dominate the National Football League with their rivalry and individual performances.

This season the Commonwealth Athletic Conference Small has their own version of Brady vs. Manning in Manchester Essex's Pat Orlando and Georgetown's Joe Esposito.

Up until three months ago, Gloucester High School junior Dylan Maki was confused about his football future.

After playing on the freshman team in the fall of 2005, the standout student, basketball player and right-handed pitcher wasn't quite sure if football was a good fit.

Nothing to play for?

You say there's nothing to play for?

You obviously have no clue what the Beverly vs. Salem football rivalry is all about.

Take the records | both the visiting Panthers and host Witches enter tomorrow's game with identical 5-5 marks | and toss them aside. Literally.

Whittier Tech coach Kevin Bradley figures this is the final Thanksgiving meeting between the Wildcats and Cathedral High in Boston.

"It looks like this will be it," said Bradley. "Now, we just have to find the right team to play on Thanksgiving." Cathedral, which plays in the Division 4 Catholic Central Small, brings a 5-5 mark into this one. The Cats have pushed around the Panthers, who did play the 2006 Super Bowl-bound Whittier as tough as anyone a year ago.

His right hand is wrapped in medical tape. His left knee is in a brace. His head is finally clearing. To Central Catholic's Curtis Davis, the sprain, the torn meniscus | even the two concussions he suffered last month | are superficial. Look closer and you'll see a deeper struggle.

Any signs of complacency in the Pentucket Regional football camp the past couple weeks have been silenced by one simple score:

Triton 26, Pentucket 20.

The Sachems watched a run of seven straight Thanksgiving morning wins over Triton snapped on Pentucket's home turf last fall.

With fewer than 30 candidates starting the season, attrition and injuries have been the bane of North Reading's existence.

The 5-5 Hornets, who opened the year with three straight wins, look to end it in similar style with a win over the rival 3-7 Pioneers.

Masconomet Regional might be the only team playing for a postseason berth, but don't underestimate the power of a banner.

North Andover, like Masco, stands at 3-1 in the Cape Ann Large, and a win tomorrow would earn the Scarlet Knights a share of the title with Wilmington. But only Masco, which beat Wilmington, can go on to the EMass Division 2A playoffs.

The Valley is watching Pat Graham this Thanksgiving. So aren't West Methuen, and the Arlington district, and the folks out at Homestead Acres, too.

The rookie Ranger coach understands it, and says his club will be ready for Dracut.